Greg Smith, Schneider’s 2026 Ride of Pride driver
Schneider
In the U.S. today is Veterans Day. In Canada, it’s Remembrance Day. But, regardless of what it’s called, today is when we pause to remember and honor the men and women who served in the military.
There are some 17 million veterans living in the U.S. and more than 460,000 in Canada.
The trucking industry has for many years been a source of employment for vets when their time in the military is over. In fact, many trucking companies prefer to hire veterans, and have special programs to help them find success as truck drivers.
Just recently, the federal government took steps to make it easier for those ending their military careers to find new ones in the trucking industry. In July, the Department of Transportation announced Freedom Haulers, an initiative to help military veterans find truck driving jobs.
But, many trucking companies – both for hire and private fleets – already have in place programs to make it easier to get veterans behind the wheels of their trucks.
Among those companies are:
- Over 36% of the flatbed fleet is comprised of veterans.
- Offers a GI Bill-approved apprenticeship program where eligible drivers can receive tax-free VA monthly stipends (up to $1,629/month) for up to 24 months. Partnered with Hiring Our Heroes.
- TMC is a corporate partner in the Partnership for Youth Success (PaYS) program, providing priority job interviews for active Army, Army Reserve, and Army ROTC members.
- The company employs a dedicated military recruiter (Jeff Strause) to help service members transition into civilian driving careers.
- TMC places a patriotic decal representing each driver's specific branch of service on their truck
- Over 30% of employees are military veterans.
- Features a 24-month flatbed apprenticeship training program allowing veterans to use GI Bill benefits for a Basic Allowance for Housing stipend up to $2,439 monthly. Includes veteran-themed trucks and a dedicated Veteran Resource Group.
- Eligible veteran drivers can receive supplemental monthly income based on the BAH rate in Birmingham, Alabama, while making the transition to a civilian trucking career.
- Features a dedicated Military Team, a Veteran Resource Group, and veteran-to-veteran mentorship opportunities. Over 30% of Melton's workforce consists of veterans and reservists.
- The company ctively recruits through partnerships with organizations like Hiring Our Heroes and Troops Into Transportation, participating in military base briefs and career fairs
- About 24% of the workforce consists of military personnel.
- Credits military driving experience toward tenure, offers a Military Apprenticeship Program adding up to $1,647/month in the first year, provides GI Bill tuition matching, guarantees unpaid home time for Guard and Reserve drills, and offers up to 18 months of extended benefits and differential pay during deployments
- For the Ride of Pride proigram, Daimler produces custom-decorated Freightliner Cascadia trucks—serving as rolling tributes adorned with military history, branch emblems, and patriotic themes—and awards them to participating carriers. Schneider has had 16 Ride of Pride trucks.
- Has committed to hiring 1,400 military veterans in calendar year 2027, with nearly 20% of its workforce having a military background.
- Recognized repeatedly as a Best for Vets employer by Military Times.
- Features the Operation Freedom program providing up to $25,881.60 in tax-free VA benefits, college credit transfers, and Department of Labor certifications for drivers with under 12 months of experience.
- Participates in active-duty training and transition partnerships (such as the 6-month active-duty SkillBridge training).
- WEVets Resource Group is an internal veteran resource group that helps prior-service associates network, find mentorship, and grow within the company.
- Roehl Honor Program recognizes military service with a CEO certificate and letter of thanks, a truck decal with an eagle logo, a lapel pin, jacket patch, logo hat, and a challenge coin. It is open to all military classifications and MOSs without requiring prior trucking experience.
- Military Skills Test Waiver Assistance helps qualified veterans with military driving experience bypass certain state-administered CDL skills tests.
- Paid CDL Training is available for veterans who are new to the trucking industry.
- Participates in the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) program and complies with USERRA guidelines.
- Recognized as a Military Friendly Employer every year since 2014.
- Offers the Roehl Honor Program, a two-year apprenticeship, military CDL skill waivers, and flexible home-time options including weekly or daily routes.
- Recognizes military MOS codes (88M, 3531, 2T1X1) for 100% credit toward Class A driving experience with dedicated and intermodal routes.
- Committed to hire 1,600 veterans as part of the government’s Freedom Haulers program.
- Veterans can utilize their military mechanical and technical experience in tractor, trailer, or mobile mechanic roles with guidance from certified professional trainers
- The Military Leave Concierge Service offers support for ongoing service, deployments, reentry, familial support, and differential pay.
- Veterans Employee Resource Group (VERG) & Onboarding Support provides personalized onboarding mentorship, manager/supervisor training on military transition, and a dedicated employee resource group
- Roughly 1 in 12 to 14 WM employees is a former service member, and the company actively collaborates with military bases, AMVETS, and the U.S. Army PaYS Program.
- WM has built a strategic program centered around recruitment, retention, and career advancement for former service members.
- They feature a dedicated WM Military & Veteran Talent Network that includes a Military Occupational Specialty Translator to match military experience with civilian roles.
- WM has consistently been named to employer lists like Forbes' Best Employers for Veterans and Military Times' Best for Vets.
- WM offers specialized transition programs, such as the Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) Plant Manager SkillBridge Program in partnership with RecruitMilitary, which provides hands-on training and career development for transitioning service members
- Texas-based grocery store chain actively hires military veterans across its operations, including through its dedicated military hiring initiatives and supply chain logistics, though specific CDL truck driving roles have standard licensing and experience requirements.
- H-E-B said it has hired over 32,000 veterans and military spouses and is regularly ranked as a top employer for veterans by platforms like Forbes and Indeed.
- H-E-B operates targeted recruitment and community support initiatives through its H-E-B Newsroom Military Page.
- Offers the "Troops to Tankers" military transition program specifically for individuals with prior military driving experience.
- Quality Carriers accepts Military Skills Test Waivers and a copy of the DD214 in lieu of civilian driving experience.
- Recognized with the Gold HIREvets Medallion for hiring over 1,500 veterans, reservists, and spouses.
- Quality Distribution (Quality Carriers' parent company) has been recognized with the HIREVets Gold Medallion Award from the U.S. Department of Labor for its commitment to veteran employment, having hired over 1,500 veterans, reservists, and spouses.
- Depending on the specific division, terminal, or affiliate location, veteran-focused opportunities may include specialized bonus programs, flexible home time, and dedicated driver support teams.
- Some 13% of Averitt’s employees are military veterans
- The company is recognized for military transitions due to its regional route structures (primarily Midwest and South) and its specialized active-duty pay differential policy for reservists and National Guard members.
- Eligible veterans, National Guard members, and Reserves with Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits can participate in approved OJT programs (such as for drivers or diesel mechanics) that combine on-the-job training with weekly Averitt pay plus monthly tax-free VA benefit payments.
- Veterans with qualifying military occupational specialties (MOS, AFSC, or RATE) that involved operating military motor vehicles equivalent to commercial motor vehicles can apply for a waiver to obtain a CDL without skills testing.
- Dock-to-Driver and Career Paths is a structured paid dock work options to help individuals train and earn their CDL-A, alongside driver-to-leadership development tracks.
- Active-duty or training leave compensation covering up to 30 consecutive days for the pay difference between military pay and Averitt base pay.
- Flexible career paths and transfer options for military spouses when relocations occur.
- For 2026, Averitt earned the Military Friendly GOLD Employer award and Military Friendly Spouse Employer award. Has won this award for eight consecutive years.
- Employs over 1,400 former military personnel
- Patriot Fleet program honors top-performing veteran drivers with military-themed rigs.
- Says it intentionally recruits veterans because military service instills leadership, teamwork, discipline, safety focus, and an understanding of complex logistics—traits that directly match freight and transportation operations.
- FedEx Freight provides a dedicated MOS Code Search Platform that matches a veteran's specific military experience and skills directly to open civilian roles.
- FedEx partners with Hiring Our Heroes to offer career summits, networking, resume assistance
- FedEx Military Fellowship Program is a year-long immersive experience for active-duty/transitioning service members).
- Actively recruits veterans for key positions including City Drivers, Road Drivers, Freight Handlers, Maintenance Technicians, and Operations Supervisors
- UPS delivery driver positions are certified in the Department of Labor's Registered Apprenticeship Program, allowing eligible veterans to combine regular UPS wages with tax-free VA G.I. Bill stipends while training
- Has a dedicated military and veteran recruitment team (including veteran recruiters) and maintains a Military & Veterans Careers Page with personalized job notifications.
- Veteran Business Resource Group (BRG): Provides internal community, networking, mentorship, and support for veteran employees
- Collaborates with transition and military support groups like Hire Heroes USA, Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), FourBlock, American Corporate Partners, and the Soldier for Life / Marine for Life programs
- Veterans Welcome Home Commitment: Launched in 2013, Walmart pledged to offer a job to any honorably discharged U.S. veteran within their first year of leaving the military (having hired over 500,000 veterans and military spouses since the program began).
- DoD SkillBridge Program offers structured training, internships, and career opportunities for active-duty service members transitioning into the civilian workforce.
- Military Skills Translator & Job Simulator are interactive digital tools on Walmart Military Careers that help veterans translate military experience into civilian roles and preview day-to-day responsibilities.
- Partners with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Hiring Our Heroes to provide career fellowships, hiring events, and networking.
- Walmart SERVES is an internal Associate Resource Group dedicated to supporting, connecting, and advocating for veteran and military spouse employees across stores, clubs, and distribution centers.
- Find-a-Future Platform is a free resource to guide veterans through employment, education, and entrepreneurship tracks.
